The Isle of Anglesey – 31 July 2011

One of the best ways to start off the day is with a big, traditional English breakfast. They eat hearty! Eggs, baked beans, sausage, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, croissants, toasts, yogurt, cheese, and as much juice, milk, and tea as you want. Don't worry, I'm not so much of a glutton that I ate everything in one meal. But it was nice to have a hot breakfast because it was my first one in a month! The plan for the day was to explore the Isle of Anglesey. If you look at a map of England and Wales, Anglesey is the island just off the North Western tip of Wales. It is also the home of many Welsh castles as well as the largest number of Celtic sites in Britain because the Druids were so highly concentrated here. The north is sort of a last hold out for the Welsh people. It is more isolated and less developed (except in tourism) and thus the language and culture lives one much more strongly.

We started the day by taking the Conwy wall walk. Conwy is an old medieval town that, because it is so north and out of the way, has stayed rather small and well preserved. Much of the large stone wall that used to surround the medieval town was still intact and it was the perfect way to see the city now. I couldn't help but hum “Chim-chimeney, chim-chimeny, chim-chim-cheroo” to myself.

Then we went to church. I love attending church because each time it is a reminder how things are different but in the Gospel they stay the same. The Colwyn Bay branch had lovely welcoming people and I really enjoyed the messages of the speakers that day. Partially because of what they said, and partially because of their accents. The one bad part of the meeting was when they asked if any of us could play the piano for them and I had to say no because the hymns were to hard for me to just wing it. I've never felt so guilty and I'm determined that is never going to happen again. Piano, prepare to be conquered when I get back.

After church we visited Plas Mawr and Conwy Castle. Plas Mawr was a great house of a local lord. I love to see things that people used in older times. How they filled the same needs that I have without the same modern comforts and blessings is very interesting. Plas Mawr was full of things like this. I have decided though that I am not a fan of medieval decoration. The restored fireplace was so gaudy it hurt my eyes a bit.

Conwy Castle was pretty as well. I liked this castle especially because it had so many huge and tall towers to climb up. The views were incredible! I could see all of Conwy, the gorgeous bay, and into all the lovely green hills of North Wales.

 Then we journeyed to Caernarfon Castle and Beaumaris Castle. Both towns were on the seaside and all of their houses were painted pretty bright pastel colors. Caernarvon castle was cool because this is where Prince Charles was crowned the Prince of Wales. The circle he and the Queen and other important people sat on is still there commemorating the event. Beaumaris was beautifully built, with a classic moat and square layout.

 Between visiting the two castles we stopped and saw a large celtic burial mound called Bryn-Celli-Ddu. I always have mildly guilty feelings for stomping all over the sites where many people were buried. But not enough to stop me.

Finally we made it to one of the things I had been looking forward to all day. We stopped in a tiny town that currently holds the record for the longest place name in the world. Most just call it Llanfair PG, but I like to call it by its proper name: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Say that five times fast. Really there is not much to do there except take pictures underneath the sign, which I did.

 Then it was back into the car for more driving. I didn't mind this drive because I liked seeing the countryside. We said hi to Holyhead, Amlwch and a bunch of other towns before we got completely lost trying to find three neolithic sites all entitled Lliwgy. This is pronounced Th(with spit)-ee-oo-g-ee.  We all definitely said that word as much as possible. The sites were tucked away in some fields on narrow roads bounded by tall hedge rows. The GPS couldn't find them so we were left with just a map and the semi-accurate dotted paths marked on it. But find them we did and they were very cool. One was the remains of an old Celtic village where Tom and I turned cartwheels, even though the grass was wet and slippery. The other was a great little cromlech that we literally squeezed ourselves into. And last was a tiny celtic church that was cute but hard to appreciate because it was so late and we were all worn out. We were so tired everyone was getting a little bit loopy. We couldn't stop shouting out the Beatles and Welsh national anthem while cracking jokes about eating morons (carrots in Welsh) and loving Lliwgy. I think that is when we realized it was time to call it a night and head back to Conwy hostel. I think you can get a bit of the crazy vibe from my pictures.

I really can turn a better cartwheel than this but the picture was too funny not to put in. I got nervous because Tom was right behind me and I didn't want to hit him. So I fell over instead.